My computer connects to BT Openzone or BT FON instead of my BT Home Hub

This occurs when your automatic wireless settings are given priority to a connection to BT Openzone or BT FON over a connection to your BT Home Hub or home router. This article shows how to solve the issue for:

• Windows XP Wireless Auto Configuration
• Windows Vista Wireless Network Connection Manager
• BT Wireless Connection Manager

If you're using other wireless management software check the user documentation.

Windows XP Wireless Auto Configuration

If you have connected to BT Openzone in the past it will have been automatically added to the list of your preferred wireless networks.

1. Double click the 'Wireless Connection' icon from the System Tray. 'Note:' If the wireless connection icon is not available in the System Tray, click 'Start > Control Panel > Network Connections', double click on the 'Wireless Network Connection'.
2. The following window appears. Click 'Properties'





3. Click 'Wireless Networks' tab.
4. When you switch on your computer, it attempts to connect to the networks listed in the order they appear. So if BT Openzone is higher in the list than your BT Home Hub and both wireless networks are in range then you will be automatically connected to BT Openzone.



There are three ways to get around this issue:

• Move your BT Home Hub so it is higher in the list than BT Openzone. 
  Do this by selecting your Hub in the list and clicking on the 'Move up' button until it is above BT Openzone.



• Change BT Openzone so that it requires a manual connection. 
  Select 'BT Openzone' in the list and click on the 'Properties' button. Select the 'Connection' tab and ensure the tick is removed from the 'Connect when this network is in range' box.
• Remove the BT Openzone entry if you no longer require it. 
  Select 'BT Openzone' in the list and click on the 'Remove' button.

Your computer may also be configured to allow automatic connection to non-secured networks (BT Openzone is a non-secured network). To stop this from happening click on the Advanced button in the window shown below. In the next window, make sure that 'Automatically connect to non-preferred networks' is not ticked (highlighted in the screen below).

 

5. Wait a few seconds. The wireless icon on the System Tray will go into searching mode and will connect to the Home Hub immediately. 
   
   

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Windows Vista Wireless Network Connection Manager

If you have connected to BT Openzone in the past it will appear in your list of preferred networks (highlighted below in red.) This screen can be accessed by clicking 'Start' > 'Control Panel' > 'Network & Internet' > 'Network and Sharing Centre'. From the Network Sharing Centre click on the 'Manage wireless networks' link on the left hand side of the window.

• Move your BT Home Hub so it is higher in the list than BT Openzone

  Do this by selecting your Hub in the list and clicking on the 'Move up' button until it is above BT Openzone.

• Change BT Openzone so that it requires a manual connection

  Select BT Openzone in the list and click on the 'Properties' button. Select the 'Connection' tab and ensure the tick is removed from the 'Connect when this network is in range' box.

• Remove the BT Openzone entry if you no longer require it.

  Select BT Openzone in the list and click on the 'Remove' button.

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BT Wireless Connection Manager

If you have connected to a BT Openzone in the past it will appear in your list of connection profiles (highlighted below in red.) This screen can be accessed by clicking 'Start' > 'All Programs' > 'BT Wireless Connection Manager' > 'BT Wireless Connection Manager', then select Manage connection profiles.

When you switch on your PC it will attempt to connect to networks listed in the order they appear. If BT Openzone appears above your BT Home Hub and both are in range then you will be connected to BT Openzone. To get around this issue you should move your BT Home Hub higher in the list than BT Openzone.

Do this by selecting your Hub in the list and clicking on the 'Move up' button until it is above BT Openzone.